Liverpool are now just five points off the Champions League places as they prepare to travel to Sunderland on Wednesday.

Lallana said: "The manager said before the game that maybe we needed to get back to fighting and working hard a bit more and the quality would come naturally, and I think you saw that out there.

The 50 best footballers in the world in 2015

THE entire STARSPORT website team have cast their votes for the best players in the world this year and the results are in. But who is number one? Enjoy the countdown.

1 / 50

GETTY

50. Giorgio Chiellini - The old-school Italian defender never lets strikers forget he is around. One of Juventus’ most important players, the fact he missed the Champions League final through injury proved costly

GETTY

WINNER: Christian Benteke scored the crucial goal against the Foxes on Boxing Day

“We all covered every blade of grass and the goal was eventually going to come – and it did”

Adam Lallana

"We all covered every blade of grass and the goal was eventually going to come – and it did."

Lallana was pleased to get back to winning ways after a sticky patch for the Reds saw them lose to Watford and Newcastle as well as drawing with West Brom.

He added: "It was a big win. We've had a few difficult results lately and we wanted to put on a good performance – not just get the result – and I thought we did that.

GETTY

MASTERMIND: Jurgen Klopp's pre-match team talk inspired his Liverpool side to victory

"We created a few chances in the first half and probably came in at half-time disappointed to be level, but we kept persisting and credit to Christian, who came on, put himself about and got himself a goal. The lads were all delighted for him."

After Sunderland, Liverpool travel to West Ham for their first match of 2016.